Projecting Denver Broncos' Most Heated Roster Battles This Offseason
The Denver Broncos have to trim the roster down to 53 players before the start of the regular season. They have seen players leave free agency earlier this year, some of them key starters who need to be replaced for 2015.
The Broncos worked to find the best values in free agency at positions of need. Many of these players will be asked to play large roles—starting roles—for the Broncos this season.
In the 2015 NFL draft, the Broncos moved around to secure the best talent they could find within striking distance. They might have added a couple of starters, one future superstar and multiple depth players for the roster.
Now, as we go through minicamps and OTAs before the start of training camp in late July, here’s a projection of the most heated roster battles we’ll see at Dove Valley this offseason.
6. Left Guard
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There are three spots on the offensive line up for grabs this offseason, and left guard is up in the air.
The Broncos lost Zane Beadles in free agency last offseason, so they moved right tackle Orlando Franklin inside to play left guard. Franklin moved on to the San Diego Chargers this offseason, and the Broncos were now left to find a new starter for the second year in a row.
That’s why they went out and added veteran guard Shelley Smith in free agency earlier this year. Smith, a 2010 sixth-round pick of the Houston Texans, is a perfect fit for the Broncos' new zone-blocking system.
During his time in Houston, Smith played under new Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak and knows what is expected from him as a starter. Smith has the athleticism to laterally move with efficiency after the snap. While not a power player, Smith does understand leverage and can be counted on as a “sticky blocker” at the second level of the defense.
Smith should be considered the front-runner for the starting job at this time. However, he’ll have to prove that he’s a better starting option than Ben Garland.
A former defensive lineman, Garland plays with an aggressive nature. He can control his man at the point of attack and does a good job staying with his block right up to the whistle. Garland may not be as athletic as Smith and lacks Smith’s experience as a starter but has improved his game every season.
He may prove to be better competition than some think.
5. Defensive End
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Denver has added plenty of talent at the defensive end position this offseason, and each player will compete for a starting spot to begin the season. In the Broncos' new 3-4 defense, the team needs to find ends who can set the edge against the run.
Derek Wolfe is likely to win one of the starting positions at defensive end. His skill set is a good match for the new defense run by defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Wolfe is a naturally strong player who can hold up his man on the edge and force the ball-carrier back to the inside. This directs traffic toward the heart of the defense and to extra defenders chasing the ball.
The other defensive end position will be manned by either Malik Jackson or Vance Walker.
Jackson, a fourth-year pro from USC/Tennessee, has worked well for the Broncos as a rotational defensive lineman. He can line up outside as an end or inside as a tackle and plays with a motor that just doesn’t quit. Jackson does a good job of getting pressure on the quarterback but is not an edge-setter as a run defender.
Walker was a free-agent addition the Broncos acquired earlier this year. Originally a seventh-round pick in 2009 by the Atlanta Falcons, Walker spent last season with the Kansas City Chiefs. He had a disappointing season last year and is now looking to bounce back with the Broncos. Walker can set the edge as a run defender and can also move inside to tackle in certain situations.
Another guy to keep an eye on in this battle is another free-agent addition, Antonio Smith. He played for the Oakland Raiders last season at defensive tackle. The Raiders used him often at defensive tackle, which hampered his effectiveness. Smith is better used as an end and a rotational player on the defensive line.
4. Free Safety
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There will be a new starting free safety for the Broncos this season. Rahim Moore, the Broncos' starting free safety over the last three seasons, moved on to the Houston Texans in free agency. Denver countered that transaction by adding their own free-agent safety, Darian Stewart.
At this time, Stewart can be penciled in as the starting free safety.
Stewart came over from the Baltimore Ravens, with whom he played 14 games in 2014. He’s an emerging player who performed well for the Ravens as a starter last season. Stewart had struggled with injuries early in his career but was able to stay healthy and play effectively during his lone season in Baltimore. He could step in and be a decent starter for the Broncos.
But what if they want better than "decent" at free safety?
This is where second-year cornerback Bradley Roby comes in. There have been discussions at Dove Valley about using Roby at safety this season (as Gary Kubiak has mentioned more than once at press conferences this offseason). The team wants to get their best players on the field at the same time, which is why a part-time position switch is being considered for Roby.
Last year, Roby was tested early and often as a slot corner but came through several times with big plays as a rookie. This year, Roby should still serve as a sub-package corner in addition to lining up at safety on certain downs.
In addition to Roby, corners like Kayvon Webster and Omar Bolden could see time at safety during training camp as the team prepares for the regular season.
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3. Center
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The language of the NFL is money—or transactions. It says a lot that the Broncos went out and traded with the Baltimore Ravens for center Gino Gradkowski earlier this year. It also speaks volumes that the Broncos added a center, Max Garcia, in the 2015 NFL draft.
The Broncos want to find their best option at center this year, so these two players will compete with second-year pro Matt Paradis for the starting center job.
Paradis was a sixth-round pick last year but failed to make the final roster. He did stick around with the Broncos on the practice squad and will now get the chance to prove himself as a potential starter during the evaluation period in minicamp, OTAs and training camp.
Garcia was an interesting pick. He can be compared in some ways to former Broncos center Manny Ramirez. Like Ramirez, Garcia is a power player who can control his man in a box. Also like Ramirez, Garcia is not an athletic center who can get to the second level and block moving targets. The zone-blocking system requires the offensive lineman to be laterally agile at the snap, which is not a strength of Garcia’s game.
Gradkowski has to be considered the front-runner for the starting center job this season. He started every game for the Ravens in 2013 and struggled to impress. Last season, Gradkowski barely saw the field for Baltimore and was replaced in the starting lineup by Jeremy Zuttah.
Gary Kubiak must have seen something in Gradkowski during practice last year (when he was the Ravens' offensive coordinator) that impressed him. We’ll see if Gradkowski can take what he’s learned during his pro career and be a quality starter for the Broncos—if he wins the job out of camp.
2. Nose Tackle
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The Broncos need to find the right big man to strengthen the middle of their defensive line. The fulcrum of the 3-4 defense is the nose tackle, so any weakness at the position could lead to disaster for the defense.
Sylvester Williams was selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. In college at North Carolina, Williams was regularly double-teamed and had the strength to push his man back into the quarterback in one-on-one situations. He was also known as a player who got off the line quickly with incredible snap anticipation.
That’s not what he has done at the pro level.
Williams struggled mightily last year as a starter next to Terrance Knighton. He rarely saw more than one blocker and did not get much—if any—push on the quarterback. After racking up two sacks as a rookie (in eight games), Williams did not register a single quarterback takedown in 2014. This season, the team needs him to bounce back and be more like the player he was in college.
If Williams struggles, the team will turn to other options.
The top option behind Williams is arguably Marvin Austin. The Broncos added him in free agency last year and did a good job as a part-time player. Austin has a lot of hustle, great functional strength and an understanding of leverage that allows him to toss blockers away. Injuries and inconsistencies have plagued his pro career, and Austin plays so hot that he wears down as the game goes on.
If he can improve his stamina and stay healthy, Austin might be a better starter at nose tackle than Williams.
The Broncos could also use 2015 sixth-round pick Darius Kilgo at nose tackle. He’s nothing more than a two-down space-eater who can regularly take on two blockers at one time. Like Austin, Kilgo does tend to wear down, so perhaps he’s best used as a rotational player.
1. Right Tackle
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This might be the most heated—and the most important—roster battle of the offseason.
The Broncos have shuffled the talent on the offensive line and need to find the best right tackle on the roster.
That’s why they selected Ty Sambrailo in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. Sambrailo was a standout left tackle for the Colorado State Rams and has the quick feet, athleticism and lateral agility to be a quality right tackle in the zone-blocking system.
In addition to athleticism, Sambrailo is an aggressive player who loves to punish his opponent. As a run-blocker, Sambrailo has strong hands and can push his man out of the way.
Sambrailo will face competition for the starting right tackle position from both Michael Schofield and Chris Clark.
Schofield, a third-round pick in 2014, made the final roster last year but was inactive for every single game during his rookie season. He struggled to keep weight on and also needed a ton of work to improve his pass-protection ability. At veteran minicamp earlier this month, Schofield looked like his upper body was larger with plenty of good weight (muscle).
Clark was the team’s starter at right tackle to open the 2014 season but didn’t stay there for the whole season. Instead, the Broncos had to rotate through some players before they settled on Louis Vasquez at the position. Clark is more of a finesse player, and the zone-blocking system should be a better fit for him.
He may be third in this race, but Clark has more experience than either of the players listed above.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.
Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions. Draft grades provided by NFLDraftScout.com.
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